Biography of Thomas Sharp

Thomas Sharp was a native of Ireland, but emigrated to America, and settled first in Pennsylvania, from whence he removed to Washington Co., Va. He was married twice, and by his first wife he had John, Thomas, Jr., and Benjamin. By his second wife he had but one child, David, who became a Methodist minister, and lived and died in Virginia. Thomas, Jr., settled in Kentucky. Benjamin was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and was in Colonel Campbell’s command at the battle of King’s Mountain. He married Hannah Fulkerson, of Virginia, and their children were James F.. John D., Polly C., Jacob L., Catharine E., Attosa P., Hannah D., Peter L , Elvira E., Malinda M., Margaret J., and Benjamin F. In 1816 Mr. Sharp removed to Missouri with all his family except John and Malinda, and settled in (now) Warren County, three miles east of Pinckney. When Montgomery County was organized in 1818, he was appointed Clerk of the County and Circuit Courts and held the position until the State was admitted into the Union. A small log cabin was built in his yard and used as a court house, until the County seat was located at Pinckney, which was named for his daughter, Atossa Pinckney Sharp. Mr. Sharp died at the old Roinstead in 1843; his wife died two years previous. Their son James married Catharine Neil. Polly C. married Jerry H. Neil. Jacob L married Harriet Vance. After the organization of the state government he bought the offices of County and Circuit Clerk from a man named Long who had been appointed by Gov. McNair. He paid $100 for those offices, and continued to hold them by election until 1865. He was a bald-headed man, and wore his hat on all occasions, including the sitting of the Courts, a privilege which all the Judges allowed him. While the County seat was located at Lewiston he made a regular practice of taking the prisoners out of the jail and exercising them. He died in 1869. Attossa Sharp married Capt. John Wyatt, a soldier of the war of 1812. Hannah D Married Beston Callahan. Peter L. married Jane Johnson. Elvira married James Hughes. Catharine E. married Conrad Carpenter. Margaret J. married Frederick Hamilton, who was editor of the Columbia, Mo., Patriot. Benjamin F. is a physician, and is the only one of the twelve brothers and sisters who is still living. He married Mary H. McGhee, and resides on his farm near Montgomery City, respected and honored by all who know him. Samuel T. and Benjamin F., sons of Jacob L. Sharp, are well known and prominent citizens of Montgomery County.

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